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Hinesville hires former ADA as city solicitor

By Denise Etheridge
Staff writer

POSTED:April 8, 2010 11:10 a.m.

The Hinesville City Council named former Atlantic Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Cris Schneider municipal court solicitor during a regular meeting April 1. The council decided to create the city solicitor position last year, according to Hinesville City Manager Billy Edwards.Schneider will prosecute all cases involving state traffic offenses, city ordinance violations, and misdemeanor and marijuana possession cases that occur within the city limits. He also will issue subpoenas and criminal misdemeanor warrants.The new solicitor will receive an annual salary of $12,000, Edwards said.According to the city’s ordinance that established the position, the solicitor will, “Consult and advise police officers in methods for conducting detailed investigation and written documentation of the investigations, and advise them on specific investigations and prepare them for trial.”In addition, a city solicitor will confer with defendants and defense counsel “to discuss cases, make sentence recommendations and negotiate appropriate pleas.”

Schneider, who resigned from the DA’s office a month ago, plans to open a general law practice in Richmond Hill. He has eight years experience in criminal defense and served in the DA’s office for more than four years.City officials also made board appointments and were informed of upcoming appointments that must be made.Three citizens were appointed to the Liberty Water Resources Advisory Committee: David Varnadoe, Joseph Stuart and Eric Waters.The council also nominated three people for the newly created Hinesville Citizens Sign Appeals Board: Steve Smith, Yvonne Woods and Max Patel. The board must be established following the recently approved sign ordinance. It will consist of six members appointed by the mayor and council once city officials complete the nomination and approval process at the April 15 meeting. Sign Appeals Board members will serve three-year, staggered terms.The mayor and council members must also make appointments to the Historic Preservation Committee, the Hinesville Housing Authority and the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority when the council next meets April 15.Historic Preservation Commission members Judy Shippey, Carolyn Smith Carter and Jon Collins’ appointments expire May 2. Shippey was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Bud Frankenthaler on Feb. 18. Commission members serve three years.Glen Jenkinson’s term on the housing authority will expire May 11. Jenkinson was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Taehwan Rim on Sept. 3, 2009. Authority members serve five-year terms.The council will make four appointments to the HDDA. HDDA members will serve four-year terms, beginning May 6. HDDA members Babs Holtzman, Paul Johnson, Thomas Ratcliffe Jr. and John P. Johnson’s terms expire May 6. Holtzman was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Brian Smith and Ratcliffe was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Esther Griffin.